All Blacks star Rieko Ioane is licking his lips at the prospect of forming an explosive Blues midfield combination with league convert Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, after their first outing together against the Hurricanes last weekend.
While the result wasn't ideal - a last-minute converted try deprived them victory - early signs confirmed the Blues backline will be as dangerous as any in the competition, especially once Beauden Barrett occupies the No.10 jersey.
But after battling to establish his credentials at centre over recent seasons, Ioane seems excited at his new role as the senior pro in a partnership with the former NZ Warriors captain and NRL Dally M Medal winner.
After playing winger and fullback in the 13-a-side code, Tuivasa-Sheck has slotted into second-five with the Blues and showed many of the elusive qualities that highlighted his league career.
"He was awesome," Ioane tells Newshub. "Obviously, he still has a bit of league to get out of his system, but in terms of eagerness and ability, he's a footy athlete, through and through.
"Getting him the ball as much as we can, as well as our outsides, will be huge for us this season
"On both attack and defence, I thought he was huge for us on the weekend."
Tuivasa-Sheck has already impressed coaches and teammates, even before finally taking the field for his rugby comeback. His professionalism - a trademark of his league reputation - has rubbed off on those around him, particularly winger Caleb Clarke, who became an All Black in his debut season, but has perhaps struggled for focus since.
While Clarke was distracted by the lure of Olympic sevens selection - he ultimately missed out on Tokyo last year - Ioane's attention has been divided by his ability on the wing and desire to move infield, an ambition finally embraced by All Blacks hierarchy in 2021.
Taking the new chum under his wing has further enhanced Ioane's new standing as a leader in the locker-room.
"We get to train with him quite a bit and we see what he's capable of, so for him to go out and show glimpses was definitely exciting," he says.
"For myself, playing outside him, and our outsides are looking forward to what our insides can cook up, because we quite a formidale 9-10-12, once they get the combo and that gelling phase is through, it's definitely going to be exciting."
With Barrett still recovering from concussion, Harry Plummer was handed the start between halfback Finlay Christie and Tuivasa-Sheck against the Hurricanes.
Ioane is obviously disappointed with the 33-32 capitulation to their southern rivals, after dominating the first 70 minutes of the encounter and leading by 18 points late, but has taken a philosophical attitude to the setback.
"Credit to the 'Canes to finish the way they did and it was obviously heartbreaking to us," he says. "The silver lining is it's only round one.
"We'd rather not lose, but if we were to, we'd rather it's in the early stages, rather than the playoff stages, where we hope to be."
The Blues have an opportunity to right the ship on Saturday, when they face the Chiefs at Auckland's Eden Park.
Join us at 4:30pm Saturday for live updates of the Blues v Chiefs Super Rugby clashore to come
